The Perfect Husband - Lisa Gardner [114]
She saw herself, standing at the altar, saying I do.
“Tess, are you all right?”
She turned her head slowly. She stared at J.T. She wondered if Beckett would kill him too.
“I . . . I need some fresh air.”
Marion and J.T. exchanged glances.
“Please. I’ll be back . . . in a minute.” She pushed herself away from the table.
“Tess—”
She shook her head, ignoring J.T.’s outstretched hand. She made it to the banquet room doors, pushed them open, and plunged herself toward the daylight. The sun streamed through stained glass trim of blue and red.
She saw the reflection on her hands as she leaned against the hallway wall. She thought it looked like blood.
“SHE DOESN’T LOOK like she’s doing so well.”
“She’s tough. She can handle it.” He wanted to sound firm, but he didn’t. Offering comfort wasn’t his strong suit. And watching Tess suffer tore at him in ways he didn’t want to be torn.
He glanced at Marion. She wasn’t as calm as she pretended either. Every time she raised her cigarette, he could see her hand tremble. After a moment she held out her pack of cigarettes to him. He accepted, lighting one quickly. They sat there and smoked.
“How are you doing?” he asked at last to cover the silence.
“Just dandy. I’m thinking of suing Roger for all he’s worth, and he’s worth a lot. Old money. What more can you ask for?”
“Physical harm,” J.T. suggested lightly. “I’ll help you burn down his place if you’d like. I know a thing or two about setting explosives.”
“Really? Hmm, blow him up. Why not? It could be fun.”
“You’re a trained professional, Marion. Think of how well you could stalk him. It would be an example for hundreds of women with traitorous husbands.”
The corners of her mouth lifted briefly. J.T. kept his hand on the cigarette so he wouldn’t do something so stupid as reach out and take her hand.
“I’m glad you came,” he offered abruptly.
“Why did you ask me to?” Her smile was gone. Now she was cool, but perhaps also a bit nervous.
“Because I needed the information and I knew you could get it.”
“No other reason?”
“No other reason. Why did you come?”
“Because I want to get Beckett.”
“No other reason?”
“No other reason.”
“We’re both bad liars, Marion.”
She turned away, but not before he caught the flash of vulnerability in her eyes. The tension in his body increased.
“Next time Beckett will kill you, J.T.” She motioned her head toward his arm. “Two-handed you couldn’t take him on. What are you going to do with one?”
“Fire the gun faster.”
“Don’t be stupid. Take Tess and get out of Massachusetts. Special Agent Quincy is one of the best. He’ll take care of things.” She paused for a moment. “I think I may try to volunteer my services. The FBI still balks at putting its female agents on violent crime cases, but my caseload is relatively light right now. I know they need more manpower. Perhaps something could be arranged.”
“You think you can take on Beckett?” He kept his tone indifferent.
“I’m a trained professional.”
“Yeah, Marion, and so am I. But you’ve been trained to follow rules. Where I’ve been, there were none. Beckett knows law enforcement. He can anticipate you guys, think like you guys. On the other hand, he’s never met the likes of me before.”
“Oh, yes, J.T. You’re just tough shit, and you have the arm to prove it.”
“Both Tess and I walked away alive. That’s more than anyone else can say lately.”
Marion shook her head furiously. “You’re so damn arrogant. If you ever met God, the first thing you’d say is What are you doing in my chair?”
“And as long as She got up and handed it over, we’d do just fine.”
“Drop it, J.T. Get out. You’re good at running, why quit now?”
His face darkened. “No.”
“Why?”
“Because I have nothing better to do than piss you off, why do you think? Marion, I took the job, dammit. I’m trying to follow it through. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me to do? Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” He leaned forward abruptly. “And I want Beckett. I want him dead.”
“So you’ll know you’re